California’s new $20 minimum wage for fast food workers will take effect next month and add a great expense to restaurants.
But Governor Gavin Newsom slipped in a special exemption for Panera Bread franchises because they bake their own bread. It just so happens that one of Gavin’s long-time friends and campaign contributors is billionaire Greg Flynn a major Panera franchisee.
The California Globe summarized:
Flynn attended the same high school as Newsom, and has been involved in various business dealings with Gov. Newsom. Flynn has also contributed at least $164,800 to Newsom’s political campaigns, the New York Post reported.
“In 2014, Flynn, who is the largest franchisee in the US with thousands of brands including Applebee’s, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s, acquired a Napa Valley resort that was managed by Newsom’s hospitality firm, according to disclosure forms.”
“Flynn has a net worth valued at $1.1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He has donated at least $164,800 to Newsom’s campaigns.”
We’re happy to report that the blowback from this shady deal has exploded right in Newsom’s lap. So now, Governor Hair Gel is in damage control mode.
After first denying there was anything squalid about this deal, now Newsom has issued a NEW interpretation of the law that carves Panera back in:
Stack said lawyers for the governor’s office determined that Panera doesn’t meet the standard for a business that “produces” bread “for sale on the establishment’s premises” because “many chain bakeries (such as Panera Bread) mix dough at centralized off-site locations and then ship that dough to their retail locations for baking and sale.”
